La Crosse, WI

Weather Forecast Office

2018 Meteorological Summer Summary

The following are the climate summaries for La Crosse WI and Rochester MN for meteorological summer (June 1 through August 31)...

La Crosse WI...

...2018 Meteorological Summer was the 3rd Warmest with Above-Normal Rainfall in La Crosse WI...

During the meteorological summer (June 1st through August 31st) of 2017, both the temperatures and rainfall were above normal at La Crosse Regional Airport.

More details are listed below...

Temperatures...3rd Warmest

During meteorological summer, La Crosse Regional Airport had an average temperature of 74.5°F. This was 3°F warmer than the 1981-2010 normal of 71.5F. This was the 3rd warmest summer. Only 1995 (75.7°F) and 1988 (75.3°F) were warmer. 4 of the 15 warmest summers (2010, 2012, 2016, and 2018) have occurred during this past decade. The table below shows the ten warmest meteorological summers in La Crosse WI.

Ten Warmest Meteorological Summers
in La Crosse WI
1873-2018

Average
Rank Temperature Year
---- ----------- ----
1 75.7°F 1995
2 75.3°F 1988
3 74.5°F 2018
4 74.4°F 2012
5 74.2°F 1980
6 74.0°F 1965
74.0°F 1949
74.0°F 1901
9 73.9°F 1936
10 73.8°F 2005
73.8°F 1931
73.8°F 1921

The table below provides a breakdown of the temperature departures from normal for La Crosse WI this summer...

Summer 2018 Temperatures
in La Crosse WI

Departure from
Normal
--------------
June Monthly Avg. Temp 73.7 degrees +4.5 degrees - 6th Warmest
Monthly Avg. Max Temp 82.8 degrees +2.8 degrees
Monthly Avg. Min Temp 64.6 degrees +6.1 degrees - Warmest

July Monthly Avg. Temp 75.4 degrees +1.7 degrees
Monthly Avg. Max Temp 85.8 degrees +1.7 degrees
Monthly Avg. Min Temp 65.0 degrees +1.8 degrees

August Monthly Avg. Temp 74.2 degrees +2.7 degrees - 12th Warmest
Monthly Avg. Max Temp 84.2 degrees +2.7 degrees
Monthly Avg. Min Temp 64.5 degrees +3.2 degrees

Summer Seasonal Avg. Temp 74.5 degrees +3.0 degrees - 3rd Warmest
Seasonal Avg. Max Temp 84.2 degrees +2.3 degrees - Tied for 15th Warmest
Seasonal Avg. Min Temp 64.7 degrees +3.7 degrees - 2nd Warmest

The average maximum temperature was 84.2°F. This was 2.3°F warmer than the 1981-2010 normal of 81.9 degrees. This was tied with 1934 for the 15th warmest. This was the warmest since 2012 (86.1°F - 3rd warmest).

The average minimum temperature was 64.7°F. This was 3.7°F warmer than the 1981-2010 normal of 61.0°F. This was the 2nd warmest. Only 1995 was warmer with an average of 64.9°F.

Other temperature tidbits this summer...

The hottest temperature was 98°F on June 17th and June 29th. This was the warmest summer temperature since 2013 (98F).
The coldest high temperature was 69°F on June 19th.
The coldest temperature was 52°F on June 4th. No other summer had its coldest minimum temperature this warm. The previous record was 51F in 1884 and 2007. The last time the temperature has been colder than 52F was back on May 21st. This current 103 day stretch is the second longest. The only longer stretch of days is a 110 day stretch in 2016 (June 9 to September 26).
The warmest low temperature was 77°F on June 17th. Warmest since 2013.
The temperature climbed to or exceeded 90 degrees on 18 days. Normally, there are 13 days per summer.
Temperatures averaged above normal on 67 days...below normal on 22 days...and normal on 3 days.

Precipitation...Slightly Wetter-than-Normal

During the meteorological summer, La Crosse Regional Airport received 13.70 inches of rain. This was 0.81 inches wetter than the 1981-2010 normal of 12.89 inches.

The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for this summer.

Summer 2018 Precipitation
in La Crosse WI

Precipitation Departure
Month Total from Normal
----- ------------ -----------
June 4.42 inches +0.08 inches
July 2.40 inches -1.86 inches
August 6.88 inches +2.59 inches

Summer 13.70 inches +0.81 inches

Other precipitation tidbits this summer...

The wettest day occurred on August 27th when 3.04 inches of precipitation fell.

Measurable rain fell on 32 days (34.8%) and trace amounts fell on another 10 days (10.9%).

0.01 inches or more - 32 days
0.10 inches or more - 21 days
0.50 inches or more - 10 days
1.00 inches or more - 3 days

Sky...

It was clear on 50 days.
It was partly cloudy on 34 days.
It was cloudy on 8 days.

Sea Level Pressure...

Highest was 30.45 inches on July 6th.
Lowest was 29.57 inches on July 20th and August 27th.

Winds...

Highest sustained wind was 45 mph from the west on June 30th.
Highest wind gust was 59 mph from the west on June 30th and northwest on July 4th.

Rochester MN...

...2018 Meteorological Summer was Slightly Warmer and Drier than Normal in Rochester MN...

During the meteorological summer (June 1st through August 31st) of 2018, temperatures averaged warmer-normal and rainfall was drier-than-normal at Rochester International Airport.

More details are listed below...

Temperatures...Slightly Warmer-than-Normal

During meteorological summer, Rochester International Airport had an average temperature of 70.1°F. This was a 0.7°F warmer than 1981-2010 normal of 69.4°F.

The average maximum temperature was 79.7°F. This was 0.2°F warmer than the 1981-2010 normal of 79.5°F.

The average minimum temperature was 60.5°F. This was 1.2°F warmer than the 1981-2010 normal of 59.3°F. This was the 11th warmest and the warmest since 2016 (60.6°F - Tied with 2015 for 8th warmest). 10 to the 17 warmest average minimum temperatures have occurred this century.

The table below provides a breakdown of the temperature departures from normal for Rochester MN this summer...

Summer 2018 Temperatures
in Rochester MN

Departure from
Normal
--------------
June Monthly Avg. Temp 70.1 degrees +2.5 degrees
Monthly Avg. Max Temp 78.9 degrees +0.9 degrees
Monthly Avg. Min Temp 61.3 degrees +4.1 degrees

July Monthly Avg. Temp 70.4 degrees -1.0 degrees
Monthly Avg. Max Temp 80.3 degrees -1.1 degrees
Monthly Avg. Min Temp 60.6 degrees -0.7 degrees

August Monthly Avg. Temp 69.7 degrees +0.6 degrees
Monthly Avg. Max Temp 79.7 degrees +0.8 degrees
Monthly Avg. Min Temp 59.7 degrees +0.4 degrees

Summer Seasonal Avg. Temp 70.1 degrees +0.7 degrees
Seasonal Avg. Max Temp 79.7 degrees +0.2 degrees
Seasonal Avg. Min Temp 60.5 degrees +1.2 degrees

Other temperature tidbits this summer...

The hottest temperature was 92 degrees on June 17th.
The coldest high temperature was 65 degrees on June 21st.
The coldest temperature was 49 degrees on June 4th and August 30th.
The warmest low temperature was 72 degrees on June 16th and Augsut 28th.
The temperature reached 90 degrees on 4 days. Normally there are 10 days.
Temperatures averaged above normal on 48 days, below normal on 40 days, and normal temperatures on 4 days.

Precipitation...Slightly Drier-than-Normal

During the meteorological summer, Rochester International Airport received 12.48 inches of precipitation. This was 1.27 inches drier than the 1981-2010 normal of 13.75 inches.

The table below contains the monthly precipitation totals and their departures from normal for this summer.

Summer 2016 Precipitation
in Rochester MN

Precipitation Departure
Month Total from Normal
----- ------------ -----------
June 6.38 inches +1.70 inches
July 2.88 inches -1.67 inches
August 3.22 inches -1.30 inches

Summer 12.58 inches -1.27 inches